The UGS was formed in 1923 for the gentry and their employees to
compete together on a friendly basis with any type of gundog.

Separate stakes were run for Honorary Members (The Gentry) and
Ordinary Members (Gamekeepers and Professional Handlers). The
Society had several Branches in the South of England and at the
end of each shooting season, representatives from each Branch
came together for a Field Trial Final which was often held over two
days. This Field Trial Final is still held today when the winners of
each Branch All Aged Stake come together to compete for eleven
solid silver cups, most of which date back to the first years of the
Society.

In the early days, the Society was well supported by many well
known enthusiasts including Mrs Quintin-Dick, J. Arthur Rank,
Vincent Routledge, R. Sharpe, Peter Moxon, Lord and Lady Burrell.

There was a gap of ten years in the Society’s activities during the
Second World War. When the Society resumed its competitions,
only three Branches remained, to be joined by a fourth in 1960.

The mixed subgroups in the past meant that wins in the Utility Field
Trial Stakes did not qualify for the Kennel Club Stud Book entry or
for the Open Stakes run by other societies. Judges and triallers
were discouraged from judging and entering Utility Field Trials, and
inevitably membership dropped. Later, changes to the Kennel Club
regulations made it impossible for the subgroups to run together in
competitions.

During the 1990’s the UGS bowed to the inevitable and became a
registered Society at the Kennel Club and we now have equal
status with other societies. Membership is in the region of 800.

At present the Society consists of four Branches in the Home
Counties and East Anglia. The Branches still compete against each
other both in Working Tests and Field Trials and many of the very valuable and truly historic trophies (shown below) awarded at the
Finals date back to 1923.